Antibacterial and antibiotic resistance modifying activity of the extracts from Allanblackia gabonensis, Combretum molle and Gladiolus quartinianus against Gram-negative bacteria including multi-drug resistant phenotypes.

Aimé G Fankam,Jules R Kuiate,Victor Kuete

doi:10.1186/s12906-015-0726-0

Aimé G Fankam, Jules R Kuiate + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-015-0726-0

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Abstract

BackgroundBacterial resistance to antibiotics is becoming a serious problem worldwide. The discovery of new and effective antimicrobials and/or resistance modulators is necessary to tackle the spread of resistance or to reverse the multi-drug resistance. We investigated the antibacterial and antibiotic-resistance modifying activities of the methanol extracts from Allanblackia gabonensis, Gladiolus quartinianus and Combretum molle against 29 Gram-negative bacteria including multi-drug resistant (MDR) phenotypes.MethodsThe broth microdilution method was used to determine the minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) and minimal bactericidal concentrations (MBC) of the samples meanwhile the standard phytochemical methods were used for the preliminary phytochemical screening of the plant extracts.ResultsPhytochemical analysis showed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, phenols and tannins in all studied extracts. Other chemical classes of secondary metabolites were selectively presents. Extracts from A. gabonensis and C. molle displayed a broad spectrum of activity with MICs varying from 16 to 1024 μg/mL against about 72.41 % of the tested bacteria. The extract from the fruits of A. gabonensis had the best activity, with MIC values below 100 μg/mL on 37.9 % of tested bacteria. Percentages of antibiotic-modulating effects ranging from 67 to 100 % were observed against tested MDR bacteria when combining the leaves extract from C. molle (at MIC/2 and MIC/4) with chloramphenicol, kanamycin, streptomycin and tetracycline.ConclusionThe overall results of the present study provide information for the possible use of the studied plant, especially Allanblackia gabonensis and Combretum molle in the control of Gram-negative bacterial infections including MDR species as antibacterials as well as resistance modulators.

Highlights

Bacterial resistance to antibiotics is becoming a serious problem worldwide
Others classes of botanicals were selectively distributed in different plant extracts
Extracts from Combretum molle leaves (CML) and Allanblackia gabonensis displayed the most important spectrum of activity. Their inhibitory effects were observed on 72.41 % (27/29) for CML of the tested bacteria, 58.62 % (17/29) for leaves (AGL), 75.86 % (22/29) for flower (AGFl)

Summary

Introduction

Bacterial resistance to antibiotics is becoming a serious problem worldwide. The discovery of new and effective antimicrobials and/or resistance modulators is necessary to tackle the spread of resistance or to reverse the multi-drug resistance. We investigated the antibacterial and antibiotic-resistance modifying activities of the methanol extracts from Allanblackia gabonensis, Gladiolus quartinianus and Combretum molle against 29 Gram-negative bacteria including multi-drug resistant (MDR) phenotypes. Infectious diseases caused by multi-drug resistant (MDR) Gram-negative bacteria are worldwide health concern, causing increasingly morbidity and mortality in developing countries [1]. We hypothesized that herbal medicines traditionally used for the treatment of infectious diseases could contain molecules acting as antibacterial and/ or antibiotic-resistance modulators. This study was designed to investigate the in vitro antibacterial and antibiotic-resistance modifying activities of the methanol extracts from Allanblackia gabonensis Pellegr. Don (Combretaceae) against Gramnegative bacteria including multi-drug phenotypes. These plants are traditionally used to manage various ailments including bacterial related infections

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